Editor: 'The Stolen Ones' is storytelling with a purpose

Published: Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 11:01 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 11:01 p.m.

The Stolen Ones defies the journalism norm, and that's the challenge we're asking you to overcome as you read this special report.

Tucked inside the Herald-Tribune today is a 44-page story presented magazine-style. Visit heraldtribune.com/thestolenones, and you'll also find an evocative digital experience, optimized for your iPad or computer viewing.

We've designed this compelling, complex report to fit your needs and time schedule. Can't read it today? Fine. Just put the section on a nearby table. Or bookmark the digital story.

All we ask is that you read it.

It's journalism that matters. It's storytelling with a purpose.

Reporter J. David McSwane, photographer Dan Wagner and a talented Herald-Tribune team have put together a project that is at once upsetting and motivating. It's a story that evolves beyond the topic of how once-innocent children are being trafficked for sex.

It's a story of unintended consequences and desperate battles of emotion, incredible in that it's real yet rarely discussed, strangely hopeful because of the advocates who won't give up.

This is investigative journalism at its finest, a public service that's unique in the partnership we've created, and in its longform narrative with no clear ending.

“This has been the most ambitious, most difficult and most fulfilling project I have ever been associated with,” says Scott Carroll, the project's editor.

“We set out to do something that had never been done before: Look at child sex trafficking from the bottom up — examining not only the what but the who, why and how of the issue — in a layered, character-driven narrative, with photos and videos to round out the story. I believe David and Dan accomplished that.”

It's a story that media organizations have been unwilling to tackle because it's time-intensive, complicated and controversial. It's not the polite chitchat of receptions or galas, yet this issue — and the sordid economy of abusing children — is flourishing in Florida, in Sarasota and Manatee counties, just down the street if not in your neighborhood.

Florida's ugly reputation as a sleaze magnet for traffickers is why Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi have taken leading roles recently to tackle this issue. However, it's a frustrating topic with a stigma that makes voters uncomfortable, resulting in few resources and a trickle of funding.

The reporting for The Stolen Ones was uncompromised and independent. But this project is unique because of partial funding by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with support from Lisa Machamer Murphy/The Machamer Charitable Fund and Cynthia McCague. The support will allow this project to be distributed nationally as a resource to understand human trafficking, to inspire communities to take action.

In addition, we've created a Take Action link at heraldtribune.com/thestolenones for those who want to volunteer or support nonprofits involved in this battle.

David is an outstanding reporter and a brilliant thinker, confident enough to tackle such a topic and compassionate enough to understand the nuanced connections of diverse story subjects such as Moe, the young woman central to The Stolen Ones, and Greg Christopher, the FBI agent.

“I hope people invest in reading this story because it is unlike most of our stories,” he says. “This is not a story about business or politicians or crime. These elements of reportage are evident throughout the story, but ultimately I hope readers see this is a story about flawed perceptions, a lack of compassion and misappropriated justice.

“It is a story about us, a story about something we failed to notice, something we are failing to fix. The first step is understanding, and I hope this story contributes to that in some small way.”

Bill Church can be contacted at bill.church@heraldtribune.com or (941) 361-4991. Follow him on Twitter @BillChurchMedia.

<p>The Stolen Ones defies the journalism norm, and that's the challenge we're asking you to overcome as you read this special report.</p><p>Tucked inside the Herald-Tribune today is a 44-page story presented magazine-style. Visit heraldtribune.com/thestolenones, and you'll also find an evocative digital experience, optimized for your iPad or computer viewing. </p><p>We've designed this compelling, complex report to fit your needs and time schedule. Can't read it today? Fine. Just put the section on a nearby table. Or bookmark the digital story.</p><p>All we ask is that you read it.</p><p>It's journalism that matters. It's storytelling with a purpose.</p><p>Reporter J. David McSwane, photographer Dan Wagner and a talented Herald-Tribune team have put together a project that is at once upsetting and motivating. It's a story that evolves beyond the topic of how once-innocent children are being trafficked for sex.</p><p>It's a story of unintended consequences and desperate battles of emotion, incredible in that it's real yet rarely discussed, strangely hopeful because of the advocates who won't give up.</p><p>This is investigative journalism at its finest, a public service that's unique in the partnership we've created, and in its longform narrative with no clear ending.</p><p>“This has been the most ambitious, most difficult and most fulfilling project I have ever been associated with,” says Scott Carroll, the project's editor. </p><p>“We set out to do something that had never been done before: Look at child sex trafficking from the bottom up — examining not only the what but the who, why and how of the issue — in a layered, character-driven narrative, with photos and videos to round out the story. I believe David and Dan accomplished that.” </p><p>It's a story that media organizations have been unwilling to tackle because it's time-intensive, complicated and controversial. It's not the polite chitchat of receptions or galas, yet this issue — and the sordid economy of abusing children — is flourishing in Florida, in Sarasota and Manatee counties, just down the street if not in your neighborhood.</p><p>Florida's ugly reputation as a sleaze magnet for traffickers is why Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi have taken leading roles recently to tackle this issue. However, it's a frustrating topic with a stigma that makes voters uncomfortable, resulting in few resources and a trickle of funding.</p><p>The reporting for The Stolen Ones was uncompromised and independent. But this project is unique because of partial funding by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with support from Lisa Machamer Murphy/The Machamer Charitable Fund and Cynthia McCague. The support will allow this project to be distributed nationally as a resource to understand human trafficking, to inspire communities to take action.</p><p>In addition, we've created a Take Action link at heraldtribune.com/thestolenones for those who want to volunteer or support nonprofits involved in this battle.</p><p>David is an outstanding reporter and a brilliant thinker, confident enough to tackle such a topic and compassionate enough to understand the nuanced connections of diverse story subjects such as Moe, the young woman central to The Stolen Ones, and Greg Christopher, the FBI agent.</p><p>“I hope people invest in reading this story because it is unlike most of our stories,” he says. “This is not a story about business or politicians or crime. These elements of reportage are evident throughout the story, but ultimately I hope readers see this is a story about flawed perceptions, a lack of compassion and misappropriated justice.</p><p>“It is a story about us, a story about something we failed to notice, something we are failing to fix. The first step is understanding, and I hope this story contributes to that in some small way.”</p><p>Bill Church can be contacted at bill.church@heraldtribune.com or (941) 361-4991. Follow him on Twitter @BillChurchMedia.</p>